Photoelectric detonator operated by direct illumination



` Nov. 1,0, 1936. V.1. H. HAMMQND. JR

PHOTOELECTRIC DETONATOR OPERATED BY DIRECT ILLUMINATION Filed April 25, 1935 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 r ...Z1 7 r wm mm Nov. 10, 1936. 1, H, HAMMQND, JR 2,060,207

PHOTOELECTRIC DETONATOR OPERATED BY DIRECT ILLUMINATION Filed April 25, 1935 3 Sheets-Sheetl 2 NOV. 10, 1936. J-|| HAMMQND, JR 1 2,060,207

PHOTOELECTRIC DETONATOR QPERATED BY DIRECT ILLUMINA'ION Filed April 25, 1955 5 Sheets-Sheet 3 I ll l wl] M H.) n.. m )y n N G N (UM IL 'NA o 1 2 2 2 19 z3 o g I 1W/" l\ o 3 l l N 2T l m gl o lL 'zo' u ,Ivg l M M7 liz VENTO% l W l A TTORNEY Y l Patented Nov. I0, 1936 PATENT OFFICE PHOTOELECTRIC DETONATOR OPERATED BY DIRECT ILLUMINATION John Hays Hammond, Jr., Gloucester, Mass. Y Application April 25, 1935, Serial No. 18,141

18 Claims. (Cl.l 114-21) This invention relates to ordnance devices and more particularly to torpedoes.

According to one form of 'the invention, a torpedo may be provided with a light sensitive device -which controls the detonation of the explosive charge thereof when it passes beneath a ship. The torpedo mechanism may include a photo-electric cell which is energized by a source of light positioned on the torpedo so that the light beam traverses the water surrounding the torpedo. As long as the torpedo travels through undisturbed water the light will be4 focused on the photo-electric cell, which will cause the detonating mechanism to remain inoperative. As soon, however, as the torpedo passes beneath a ship it will enter an area of disturbed water caused by the hull of the'ship dragging some of the water with it. This disturbed water will cause the beam of light to be deflected,

due to refraction and other optical effects, so

that it will no longer be focused on the photoelectric cell. As soon as the illumination of the photo-electric cell is thus decreased it will cause the detonation of the war head of the torpedo directly beneath the hull of the ship.

The invention also consists in certain new and original features of construction and combinations of parts hereinafter set forth and claimed.

Although the novel features which are believed tobe characteristicof this invention will be particularly pointed out in the claims appended hereto, the invention itself, as to its objects and advantages, the mode of its operation and the manner of its organization, may be better understood by referring to the following description taken in connection with the accompanying drawings forming a part thereof, in which' Figure 1 represents diagrammatically the forward portion of a torpedo embodying this invention,

Figure 2 represents diagrammatica-lly the after-body of the same torpedo,

V Figure 3 depicts a portion of the light mechanism shown in Figure l in an operative position,

Figure 4 depicts a vportion of the photo-electric cell mechanism shown in Figure 2 in an operative position, and

Figure 5 diagrammatically illustrates the course of a torpedo attacking an enemy vessel.

Like reference characters denote like parts in the several figures of the drawings.

In the following description and in the claims,

l anism 30.

parts will be identified by specc names for convenience, but they are intended to be as generic in their application to similar parts as the art will permit.

Referring to the accompanying drawings and 5 more particularly to Figures 1 and 2, there is shown a water-borne body such as a carrier of explosives having a water tight torpedo hull I0 and arranged to be propelled in the usual manner by propellers II located at the after end. 10 The hull I0 is provided with two transverse bulkheads I2 and I3 providing two compartments I5 and I6, the former being filled with an exposive charge I'I, such for example as T. N. T. A hole I4 is provided in the hull I 0 l5 at the top of compartment I6. Below this hole I4 is mounted a water tight rectangular container I8. Rotatably mounted in this container, as by water tight bushings (not shown), is a hollow shaft I9. Secured to the shaft and lo- 20 cated within the container I8 is a water tight box 20. The box 20 is so constructed that when it is in the position shown in Figure 1 its upper surface will be substantially continuous with the upper surface of the torpedo hull 25 I0. The box 20 is provided with an opening 2I,ln which-is mounted a lens 22. Behind this lens is mounted a reflecting surface 23. Mounted on a bracket 25 is a lamp or other source of illumination 26 which is so located with respect 30 to the lens 2I and the reecting surface 23 that light from the lamp 26 will be formed into a parallel beam by means of the lens 22.

Secured to one end of the shaft I9 is an arm 21 which is connected by a link 28 to a second 35 arm 29. This arm 29 is pivoted for rotation upon a clockwork mechanism 30 and is provided at its other end with a roller 3|. This roller engages a cam 32 which is secured to the shaft 24 of the clockwork mechanism 30. A spring 33 40 tends to hold the roller 3| in engagement with the cam 32. An arm 34 is also secured to the shaft 24 of the clockwork mechanism and no1'- mally engages a. pin 35. A second pin 36 is provided for limiting the motion of the arm 34. 45

For automatically startingthe clockwork mechanism 30 a heavy weight 31 is secured to the end of a flat spring 38, the upper end of which is fastened to the casing of the clockwork mech- The weight 31 is provided with a pro- 50 jectlon 39 which normally engages a finger 40 which controls the starting of the clockworkmechanism. Engaging the end of the nger 40 is a spring 4I which is supported on a bracket 42.

Secured to the shaft 24 of the clockwork mechy55 anism 30 is a commutator 45 made of insulating material and provided with a segment 46 of conducting material. Engaging the commutator 45 are four brushes 41, 48, 49, and 50. The brush 41 is connected to one conductor of a exible cable 5|, the other conductor of which is connected through abattery 52 to the brush 48. The cable 5| passes through the hollow shaft |9 and is connected tothe lamp 26. The brush 49 is connected through a battery 53 to a detonator 55 located in the explosive charge l1. The other side of the detonator 55 is connected to the armature 54 of a relay 56. The back contact 51 of this relay is connected to the brush 50.

A hole 58 is provided in the hull |0 in the afterbody as shown in Figure 2. Below this hole 58 located a rectangular water tight container 60.

Rotatably mounted in this container, as by a water tight bushing (not shown) is a hollow shaft 6|. Secured to the shaft 6| and located within the container 60 is a water tight box 62. This box is so constructed that when it is in the position shown in Figure 2l its upper surface will be substantially continuous with the upper surface of the torpedo hull I0. The box 62 is provided with an opening 63 in which is mounted a lens 65. Behind this lens is mounted a reecting surface 66. Mounted on a bracket 61 is a photo-electric cell 68 which is so located with respect to the lens 65 and the reflecting surface 66 that light received by the lens 65 from the lamp 26 will be focused upon the photo-electric cell 68.

Secured to one end of the shaft 6| is an arm 10 which is connected by a link 1| to a second arm 12. 'I'his arm 12 is pivoted for rotation upon a clockwork mechanism 13 and is provided at its other end with a roller 15. This roller 15 engages a cam 16 which is secured to the shaft 14 of the clockwork mechanism 13. A spring 11 tends to hold the roller 15 in engagement with the cam 16. An arm 18 is also secured to the shaft 14 of the clockwork mechanism and normally engages a pin 19. A second pin ls provided for limiting the motion of the arm 18.

For automatically starting the clockwork mechanism 13 a heavy weight 8| is secured to the end of a flat spring 82, the upper end of which is fastened to the casing of the clockwork mechanism 13. The weight 8| is provided with a projection 83 which normally engages a finger 85 which controls the starting of the clockwork mechanism. Engaging the end of the nger 85 is a spring 86 which is supported on a bracket 81.

Secured to the shaft 14 of the clockwork mechanism 13 is a commutator 88 made of insulating material which is provided with a segment 89 of conducting material. Engaging the commutator 88 are two brushes 90 and 9|. The brush 90 is connected to one conductor of a two conductor flexible cable 92 which is connected to the photoelectric cell 68. The other conductor 93 of this cable is connected to one side of the input circuit of an amplifier 95 located in the compartment I6 shown in Figure 1. The other side of the input circuit of the amplifier 95 is connected by a conductor 96 to the brush 9|.

'I'he usual vertical and horizontal rudders |00 and |0| respectively are provided at the 4after end of the torpedo and are controlled in a. well known and standard manner, such for example as a gyroscope located in a casing |02 which op erates through a link mechanism |03 to control the vertical rudders |00, thus maintaining the torpedo on a pre-determined straight course in a well known manner which need not be more fully described herein.

In the operation of this system, when the torpedo is red the inertia of the weights 31 and 8| cause` them to be moved backward relative to the torpedo, thus disengaging the projections 39 and 83 from the fingers 40 and 85 which are then moved upwardly under the action of the springs 4| and 86, thus causing the clockwork mechanisms 30 and 13 to startturning the cam 32 and the commutator 45 in a clockwise direction and the cam 16 and commutator 88 in a counterclockwise direction at pre-determined speeds.

As the cams 32 and 16 rotate, the rollers 3| and 15 will ride up on the cam surfaces, thus causing the arms 29 and 12 to be rotated in counterclockwise and clockwise directions respec-Y tively. These arms, by means of the links 28 and 1|, will rotate the arms 21 and 10 in clockwise and counterclockwise directions respectively. 'I'his motion of the arm 21 will cause the shaft I9 together with the water tight box 20 to be rotated in a clockwise direction into the position shown in Figure 3. The motion of the arm 10 will cause the shaft 6| and the water tight box 62 to be rotated in a counterclockwise direction into the position shown in Figure 4.

After a predetermined interval of time, the contact segment 46 will engage the brushes 41 and 48 thus closing the circuit from the battery 52 to the lamp 26. At the same time time the conducting segment 89 will engage the brushes 90 and 9|, thus connecting the photo-electric cell 68 in the input circuit of the amplifier 95.

The light from the lamp 26 will be reflected from the reflecting surface 23 and focused by the lens 22 into a beam of light |05 which strikes the lens 65 and is reected by the reflecting surface 66 to the photo-electric cell 68, thereby inuencing the operation thereof so as to cause a chan-ge in the output energy of the amplifier 95 adapted to operate the relay 56, thus opening its back contact 51 which breaks the circuit to the detonator 55. After a further interval of time, the contact segment 46 will engage the brushes 49 and 50 thus closing the circuit between the back contact 51 of the relay 56 and the detonator 55.

Figure 5 shows a torpedo of this construction attacking'an enemy ship. In this figure, the enemy ship is pictured at |06 and two positions of the torpedo at |01 and |08 respectively. In the position shown at |01 the torpedo is running submerged at the required depth and the photoelectric cell 68 is energized by light received through the water from the lamp 26 as already explained. During its course to the enemy ship, the torpedo will be running through practically undisturbed water so that the light from the lamp 26 will be constantly focused upon the photo-electric cell 68. At the position illustrated at |08 the torpedo is shown entering the area of disturbed water adjacent and beneath the hull of vessel |06. At this time the illumination of the photo-electric cell 68 will be greatly decreased due to the refraction and reflection of the light caused by passing through the disturbed water beneath the h ull of the moving vessel. This decrease of illumination will be suicient to deenergize the relay 56, thus permitting the back contact 51 to close, completing the circuit from the battery 53 to the detonator 55, thus causing the explosion of the charge |1 which will take place directly beneath the hull of the enemy ship whereby a maximum amount of damage is caused. A

It is well understood that instead of a photoelectric cell operating in response to visible. light other devicescan be used operating on dierent parts of the spectrum, in which case a suitable source of the desired type ofr radiation would be substituted for the lamp 26.

Although only a few of the various forms in which this invention may be embodied have been shown herein, itis to be understood that the invention is not limited to any specic construction, but might be embodied in various forms without departing from the spirit of the invention or thevscope of the appended claims.

What is claimed is: 4 Y

l. In combination with a submarine body, an explosive charge carried thereby, a source of illumination on said body, light receptive means for receiving the light directly from said source of illumination and means for exploding said charge when the light received by said light receptive means is varied.

2. In combination with -a body suspended in a medium, an explosive charge carried thereby, a source of illumination on said body, light receptive -means for receiving the light directly from said source of illumination and means for exploding said charge when the light received by said light receptive meansis varied.

3. In combination with a moving body. a source of illumination thereon, an explosive charge, means for causin-g the detonation of said charge, and light sensitive means for controlling said detonating means so that when the intensity of direct illumination received by said light sensitive means from said source is changed it will cause the detonation of said explosive charge.

4. In combination with a submarine body, an explosive charge carried thereby, a source of radiation on said body, radiation receptive means for receiving energy directly from said source of radiation and means for exploding said charge when said received radiation is varied.

5. In a torpedo, an explosive charge, a light source, a device sensitive to light received directly from said light source and means responsive to a change in intensity of the light received by said device to detonate said charge.

6. In a torpedo, a utility, a source of light of predetermined characteristics, a device selectively sensitive to light of said characteristics when received directly from said source, and means for operating said utility responsive to variations in light received from said source.

'1. In combination with a body suspended in a medium, an explosive charge carried thereby, a source of illuminationon said body, light receptive means for receiving the light directly from said source after travelling through the medium in which the body is suspended and means for exploding said charge when the light is deected from said radiation receptive means.

8. In combination with a submarine body, an explosive charge carried thereby, a source of illumination on said body, light receptive means for receiving the light directly from said source after transmission through the Water surroundi ing said body and means for exploding said charge when the light from said source is deflected away from said light receptive means due to an unnatural disturbance of the water surrounding said body.

9. In a torpedo, a light source adapted to radiete a beam of light, a photoelectric cell carried thereby and adapted to receive light directly from said source, said source and said cell being disposed to` cause the light to traverse the surrounding water between the source and cell, a detonator, and means to energize said detonator when the illumination of said cell is altered due to disturbances in the water caused by proximity of a foreign object.

10. In a torpedo having a hull, a. photoelectric cell, and a light source normally disposed within said hull, means to move the same outside of said hull a predetermined interval after firing, means whereby said source then projects a concentrated light beam through the water onto said cell, a detonator and means responsive to variation in illumination of said cell caused by disturbance of the water due to proximity of a foreign object for energizing said detonator.

11. In a torpedo having a hull, a detonator, an energizing circuit therefor, a relay for closing said circuit, a photoelectric c ell carried by said torpedo, a light source carried by said torpedo, means to focus a beam of light from said source directly, on said cell, said cell and said source being so disposed that the light beam is caused to travel through a portion of the surrounding water, means whereby variation of the illumination on said cell caused by disturbance of the water due to proximity of a foreign object actuates said relay to energize the detonator, and means to prevent said relay from energizing the detonator prior to operation of said light source.

l2. In a torpedo having a hull, a detonator, an energizing circuit therefor, a relay for closing said circuit, a photoelectric cell carried by said torpedo, a light source carried by said torpedo, means to focus a beam of light from said source directly on said cell, said cell and said source being so disposed that the light beam is caused to travel through a portion of the surrounding water, means whereby variation of the illumination on said cell caused by disturbance of the water due to proximity of a foreign object actuates said relay to energize lthe detonator. and means to energize the light source and the cell before the relay circuit is rendered operative.

13. In a torpedo having a hull, a photoelectric cell, and a light source normally disposed within said hull, means to move the same outside of said hull a predetermined interval after firing, means whereby said source then projects a concentrated light beam through the water onto a said cell, a detonator, means responsive to variation in illumination of said cell caused by disturbance of the water due to proximity of a foreign object for energizing said detonator, and means to prevent energization of said detonator prior to projection of said light beam on said cell.

14. 'Ihe method of controlling a torpedo which comprises projecting alight beam through a portion of the water directly surrounding the torpedo as it travels toward its target and utilizing the diierent transmission characteristics of the water adjacent to the torpedo when disturbed by the proximity of the target to control the firing of the charge.

15. In a torpedo a source of radiation, radiation receptive means for receiving the radiation directly from said source after travelling through the surrounding Water, a control mechanism and means to actuate said control mechanism when the radiation received by said last means is altered due to disturbances in the water caused by the proximity of a foreign object.

16. In a torpedo, a source of illumination, light receptive means for receiving the light directly from said source after transmission through the surrounding water, a control mechanism and means for actuating said control mechanism when the illumination of said last means is altered due to disturbances in the water caused* by the proximity of a foreign object.

17. The method of controlling a torpedo which comprises projecting a light beam through a portion of the water directly surrounding the torpedo as it travels toward its target and utilizing the different transmission characteristics of the water adjacent the torpedo when disturbed by the proximity of the target to control the operation of said torpedo.

18. The method of controlling a. torpedo which comprises projecting radiations through a portion of the Water directly surrounding the torpedo as it travels toward its target and utilizing the different transmission characteristics of the water adjacent the torpedo when disturbed by the proximity of the target to control the opera- 10 tion of said torpedo.

JOHN HAYS HAMMOND, Jn. 

